U.S. patent application number 14/275340 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for automatic setting of an alert mode on a wireless device.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. Invention is credited to James Carlton Bedingfield, SR., Quenton Gilbert, Steven Tischer.
Application Number | 20140242968 14/275340 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40508998 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140242968 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gilbert; Quenton ; et
al. |
August 28, 2014 |
Automatic Setting of an Alert Mode on a Wireless Device
Abstract
Embodiments are provided for automatically setting an alert mode
on a wireless device. Scheduling data is received which defines a
predetermined period utilized to set the alert mode. The scheduling
data may be received either by direct input in the wireless device
or alternatively from an external edge device, such as a network
server, in a communications network. In response to receiving the
scheduling data, an alert mode on the wireless device is
automatically set for the predetermined period. The alert mode may
include a silent alert mode on the wireless device. The wireless
device may include a sensor for receiving data indicative of a
current external state. The sensor data may include location data,
temperature data, and ambient noise data. The received sensor data
may be utilized to automatically trigger the setting of an alert
mode in the wireless device.
Inventors: |
Gilbert; Quenton; (Sandy
Springs, GA) ; Bedingfield, SR.; James Carlton;
(Gainesville, GA) ; Tischer; Steven; (Atlanta,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AT&T Intellectual Property I,
L.P.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
40508998 |
Appl. No.: |
14/275340 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13603158 |
Sep 4, 2012 |
8725216 |
|
|
14275340 |
|
|
|
|
11904998 |
Sep 28, 2007 |
8260366 |
|
|
13603158 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72566 20130101;
H04W 4/023 20130101; H04M 1/72569 20130101; H04M 19/04 20130101;
H04W 24/02 20130101; H04M 1/72572 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/418 |
International
Class: |
H04W 24/02 20060101
H04W024/02; H04W 4/02 20060101 H04W004/02 |
Claims
1. A wireless device comprising: a processor; and a memory storing
instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the
processor to perform operations comprising: determining a location
of the wireless device, and causing the wireless device to enter
into an alert mode based on the location of the device.
2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the operations further
comprise: discovering a device in a vicinity of the wireless
device; and transmitting, to the device, data for use by the device
to cause the device to enter into the alert mode.
3. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein discovering the device
in the vicinity of the wireless device comprises transmitting a
discovery signal.
4. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for
measuring ambient noise, wherein the operations further comprise
causing, based on the ambient noise, the wireless device to
generate a high volume audible alert for incoming communications to
the wireless device.
5. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature
sensor for measuring ambient temperature, wherein the operations
further comprise causing, based on the ambient temperature, the
wireless device to enter the alert mode.
6. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that,
when executed by a processor of a wireless device, cause the
processor to perform operations comprising: determining a location
of the wireless device; and causing the wireless device to enter
into an alert mode based on the location of the device.
7. The computer-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the
operations further comprise: discovering a device in a vicinity of
the wireless device; and transmitting, to the device, data for use
by the device to cause the device to enter into the alert mode.
8. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7, wherein
discovering the device in the vicinity of the wireless device
comprises transmitting a discovery signal.
9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the
wireless device further comprises a sensor for measuring ambient
noise and wherein the operations further comprise causing, based on
the ambient noise, the wireless device to generate a high volume
audible alert for incoming communications to the wireless
device.
10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 6, wherein the
wireless device further comprises a temperature sensor for
measuring ambient temperature and wherein the operations further
comprise causing, based on the ambient temperature, the wireless
device to enter the alert mode.
11. A method comprising: receiving, at a server executing an
alerting application, scheduling data associated with a wireless
device, the scheduling data comprising an alert mode period and an
alert mode; and causing, by the server based on the alert mode
period and the alert mode identified by the scheduling data, the
wireless device to enter into the alert mode when a current period
is within the alert mode period.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising resetting the
wireless device to a previous mode when the alert mode period
expires.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising causing the wireless
device to generate an alert to notify a user of the wireless device
when the alert mode period is coming to an end.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein causing the wireless device to
generate the alert to notify the user of the wireless device when
the alert mode period is coming to the end comprises causing the
wireless device to generate an increasing sequence of vibrating
alerts to notify the user of the wireless device when the alert
mode period is coming to the end.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining, during
the alert mode period, whether an input has been received at the
wireless device requesting an extension to the alert mode period;
and in response to determining that the input has been received,
extending the alert mode period.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining whether
the wireless device receives any communications during the alert
mode period; and in response to determining that the wireless
device receives a communication during the alert period, sending a
message to a party sending the communication.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the message to the party
sending the communication indicates that a user of the wireless
device is unavailable for a duration of time remaining in the alert
mode period.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending, to the
wireless device, a message comprising a listing of communications
received during the alert mode period, the listing of
communications comprising the communication from the party.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: storing the
scheduling data associated with the wireless device; and providing,
to a user of the wireless device, the scheduling data for selection
as current scheduling data.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing, to the user of the
wireless device, the scheduling data for selection as current
scheduling data comprises generating a user interface comprising
the scheduling data.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/603,158, filed Sep. 4, 2012, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/904,998, filed
Sep. 28, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,260,366, each of which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Modern wireless communications devices, such as cellular
telephones, allow users to manually enable a "silent mode" setting
so that audible ring or other alert tones for incoming calls, text
messages or other notifications are silenced so as to not interrupt
others in group settings (e.g., meetings, religious services, and
the like). However, many users of wireless communications devices
either forget to set their devices to silent mode or are unaware of
the procedure to do so, resulting in others being interrupted by
audible alerts resulting from incoming calls, text messages or
other notifications.
SUMMARY
[0003] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0004] Embodiments are provided for automatically setting an alert
mode on a wireless device. In one embodiment, scheduling data is
received which defines a predetermined period utilized to set the
alert mode on the wireless device. The scheduling data may be
received either by direct input in the wireless device or
alternatively from an external edge device, such as a network
server, in a communications network. In response to receiving the
scheduling data, an alert mode on the wireless device is
automatically set for the predetermined period defined in
scheduling data. The alert mode may include a silent alert mode on
the wireless device.
[0005] In accordance with another embodiment, the wireless device
may include a sensor for receiving data indicative of a current
external state associated with the wireless device. The sensor data
may include location data, temperature data, and ambient noise
data. The received sensor data may be utilized to automatically
trigger the setting of an alert mode in the wireless device based
on the current external state.
[0006] These and other features and advantages will be or become
apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following
drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such
features and advantages be included within this description, be
within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the
accompanying claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing
general description and the following detailed description are
illustrative only and are not restrictive of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a network architecture diagram illustrating
aspects of network devices utilized in and provided by various
embodiments of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless communications
device utilized in the network architecture of FIG. 1, in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a process
for automatically setting an alert mode on a wireless device, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a process
for receiving scheduling data utilized in setting an alert mode on
a wireless device, in accordance with various embodiments of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a process
for automatically setting an alert mode on a wireless device from a
network edge device, in accordance with an alternative embodiment
of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a process
for automatically setting an alert mode utilizing sensor data, in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a process
for automatically setting an alert mode utilizing venue-based data,
in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Embodiments are provided for automatically setting an alert
mode on a wireless device. In one embodiment, scheduling data is
received which defines a predetermined period utilized to set the
alert mode on the wireless device. The scheduling data may be
received either by direct input in the wireless device or
alternatively from an external edge device, such as a network
server, in a communications network. In response to receiving the
scheduling data, an alert mode on the wireless device is
automatically set for the predetermined period defined in
scheduling data. The alert mode may include a silent alert mode on
the wireless device. In accordance with another embodiment, the
wireless device may include a sensor for receiving data indicative
of a current external state associated with the wireless device.
The sensor data may include location data, temperature data, and
ambient noise data. The received sensor data may be utilized to
automatically trigger the setting of an alert mode in the wireless
device based on the current external state.
[0015] In the following detailed description, references are made
to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which
are shown by way of illustrations specific embodiments or examples.
These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be
utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from
the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following
detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals
represent like elements through the several figures, various
aspects of the present invention and an illustrative network
environment will be described. In particular, FIG. 1 and the
corresponding discussion are intended to provide a brief, general
description of a suitable network in which the invention may be
implemented.
[0017] Embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a
computer process, a computing device, or as an article of
manufacture, such as a computer program product. The computer
program product may be a computer storage medium readable by a
computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for
executing a computer process. The computer program product may also
be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system
and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a
computer process.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, an illustrative network environment
2 for the several embodiments, utilizing the techniques described
herein, will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the network
environment 2 may comprise a centralized communications network 18
which includes a wireless device 20 which may be utilized for voice
and data communications. In one embodiment, the wireless device 20
may comprise a wireless telephone such as a "smartphone." As should
be understood by those skilled in the art, smartphones combine the
functions of a conventional mobile telephone with functionality
typically included in a personal or hand-held computer (such as a
personal digital assistant ("PDA")) including, but not limited to,
an operating system, a processor and a memory for executing and
storing various application programs, a graphics capable display,
Internet access, e-mail access, short message service ("SMS")
communications, scheduling software, audio recording, contact
management, Global Positioning System ("GPS") navigation hardware
and software, infrared wireless technology, BLUETOOTH wireless
technology, and wireless fidelity ("Wi-Fi") technology for
communicating data over 802.11 networks. In particular, the
wireless device 20 may be operative to execute an alerting
application 66 for automatically setting an alert mode. In
accordance with one embodiment, the alerting application 66 may be
operative to generate a user interface to receive scheduling data
which defines a predetermined period utilized to set the alert
mode. The scheduling data may be received either by direct input in
the wireless device 20 or alternatively from an external "edge"
device, such as stationary emitter 13, wireless device 21, server
22, or personal computer 26. In response to receiving the
scheduling data, the alerting application 66 may be utilized to
automatically set the alert mode for the predetermined period
defined in scheduling data. The components and functionality of the
wireless device 20 will be discussed in greater detail below with
respect to FIG. 2.
[0019] The wireless device 20 may be in communication with a mobile
switching center ("MSC") 10. The MSC 10 may be utilized to
communicate voice calls from the wireless device 20 over the public
switched telephone network ("PSTN"). The wireless device 20 may
also be in communication with a wireless data gateway 12 for
communicating data messages over a wide area computer network, such
as the Internet. As is known to those skilled in the art, wireless
data gateways enable wireless communication of data over a computer
network. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the
functions of the wireless data gateway 12 may be incorporated into
the MSC 10.
[0020] As discussed above, the network environment 2 may also
include external edge devices such as the stationary emitter 13,
the wireless device 21, the server 22, and the personal computer
26. As defined herein and in the appended claims, an "edge device"
may include a device which is external to a centralized
communication network (such as the network 18) and which may be in
intermittent communication with the network 18. As defined herein
and in the appended claims, an "edge device" may also include a
device which is never in communication with a centralized
communication network at all but which is in intermittent
communication with other devices which may be in communication with
the centralized communication network. For example, in the network
environment 2, the wireless device 21 may be in intermittent
communication with the wireless device 20 and may be capable of
sending scheduling data received from the stationary emitter 13
(also an edge device) for setting an alert mode to the wireless
device 20.
[0021] In accordance with one embodiment, the stationary emitter 13
may be a device configured to trigger a silent alert mode in the
wireless device 21 upon the occurrence of an event in a venue. For
example, the stationary emitter 13 may be located in a venue
utilized for religious services and may be configured to send venue
data (e.g., scheduling data) to the alerting application 66
executing on the wireless device 21 during a scheduled religious
service. The alerting application 66 may then cause the wireless
device 21 to enter into a silent alert mode which lasts the
duration of the religious service. In accordance with another
embodiment, the wireless device 21 may further be configured to
"discover" other devices in the vicinity (e.g., by communicating a
discovery signal within the facility utilizing any number of
wireless communications methods) and wirelessly communicate data
causing the discovered device or devices to also enter into the
silent alert mode.
[0022] The server 22 may include interactive voice response ("IVR")
functionality for utilizing the alerting application 66 to receive
scheduling data for setting an alert mode for the wireless device
20. It should be understood that once the scheduling data is
received on the server 22, the scheduling data may then be
communicated to the wireless device 20 to set the alert mode. The
personal computer 26 may be operative to execute the alerting
application 66 which may be utilized to send scheduling data for
setting an alert mode on the wireless device 20. It should be
understood by those skilled in the art that the server 22 and the
personal computer 26 may communicate with the network 18 utilizing
a variety of low speed and high speed connections, including, but
not limited to, Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN"),
Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL"), and T1 lines. In accordance with
various embodiments, the personal computer 26 may also communicate
with the network 18 via wireless and wireline connections to a
wireless network (such as a cellular network) or a cable services
network via a cable modem. These and other connections for
communicating with computer networks are well known to those
skilled in the art.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, the wireless device 20 will now be
described in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless
device 20 includes a processor 60 and a memory 62. In the wireless
device 20, the processor 60 is connected to a display 28, a keypad
32, a radio module 40, a vibrator 70, a microphone 72, a speaker
74, a location sensor 76 (which may include, but is not limited to,
a GPS receiver) for determining a location, and a temperature
sensor 80 for measuring ambient temperature. It should be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vibrator 70 may
have functionality for generating silent mode alerts on the
wireless device 20. The radio module 40 may be operative to send
and receive voice and data via a connected antenna 42. In
accordance with various embodiments, the wireless communications
module may include, but is not limited to, a BLUETOOTH wireless
technology communications module, a Wi-Fi communications module for
communicating data over 802.11 networks including IEEE 802.16
("WiMAX"), and an infrared communications module.
[0024] The memory 62 stores an operating system 63, scheduling data
64, which may be utilized in scheduling alert mode periods, the
alerting application 66, and other data 68 such as ring tones for
audible mode alerts on the wireless device 20. It will be
appreciated that in one embodiment, the memory 62 may comprise a
computer-readable storage media including volatile and
non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any
method or technology for storage of information such as
computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or
other data. By way of example, and not limitation,
computer-readable storage media may include, but is not limited to,
RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory
technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks ("DVD"), or other
optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium
which can be used to store the desired information and which can be
accessed by a computer. It should be appreciated that the wireless
device 21 may include many of the same components illustrated in
FIG. 2 and described above.
[0025] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, the alerting
application 66 may be operative to generate a user interface which
may be utilized to automatically set an alert mode on the wireless
device 20 using the scheduling data 64 which defines a
predetermined period for the duration of the alert mode. It should
be understood that in accordance with various embodiments, the
alert modes set on the wireless device 20 may include either a
silent alert mode (which may include a vibrating alert) or an
audible alert mode (which may include a ring tone alert). It should
be understood that the type of the alert mode may be manually
selected by a user of the alerting application 66 or automatically
selected by the alerting application 66 based on sensor data
measured by the sensors 76 and 80 as well as the microphone 72.
Logical operations illustrating the operation of the alerting
application 66 in automatically setting alert modes will be
described in greater detail below with respect to FIGS. 3-5.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, an illustrative routine 300 will be
described illustrating a process performed by the alerting
application 66 in the network environment 2 for automatically
setting an alert mode on the wireless device 20. When reading the
discussion of the routines presented herein, it should be
appreciated that the logical operations of various embodiments of
the present invention are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer
implemented acts or program modules running on a computing system
and/or (2) as interconnected machine logic circuits or circuit
modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter
of choice dependent on the performance requirements of the
computing system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the
logical operations illustrated in FIG. 3-5 and making up the
embodiments of the present invention described herein are referred
to variously as operations, structural devices, acts or modules. It
will be recognized by one skilled in the art that these operations,
structural devices, acts and modules may be implemented in
software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic, and any
combination thereof without deviating from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as recited within the claims set forth
herein.
[0027] The routine 300 begins at operation 310, where the alerting
application 66 receives the scheduling data 64 to set an alert mode
period for an alert mode which may be selected on the wireless
device 20. For example, in accordance with an embodiment, a user of
the wireless device 20 having a weekly meeting on Mondays between 2
PM and 3 PM may enter, via a user interface generated by the
alerting application 66, the aforementioned scheduling data 64 to
enter the desired day, period, and alert mode type so as to
schedule the wireless device 20 to automatically enter into a
silent alert mode every Monday during the predetermined period
(i.e., the alert mode period).
[0028] It will be appreciated that the scheduling data 64 for
scheduling an alert mode may be received by the wireless device 20
utilizing a number of methods. In particular, in accordance with
various embodiments, the scheduling data 64 may be received via
direct input into the alerting application 66 executing on the
wireless device 20 (e.g., via the keypad 32) or via a signal
communicated by an edge device, such as the server 22, executing
the alerting application 66. It will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that the scheduling data 64 may be remotely
entered in an edge device by a user via voice or data entry. For
example, in accordance with an embodiment, the alerting application
66 may be a networked application enabling a user to remotely enter
the scheduling data 64 on the server 22 via a web page on the
personal computer 26, which is in communication with the server 22.
In accordance with another embodiment, a user may use either voice
or keypad entry on the wireless device 20 to remotely enter the
scheduling data 64 into the alerting application 66 executing on
the server 22. For example, if the server 22 comprises IVR
functionality, a user may utilize voice or keypad input (such as a
feature code) on the wireless device 20, the wireless device 21, or
another communications device, to enter the scheduling data 64. The
alerting application 66, upon receiving the scheduling data 64 on
the server 22, may be configured to then send the scheduling data
64 to the wireless device 20 and further remotely and automatically
set the wireless device to an alert mode identified in the
scheduling data 64 during the alert mode period selected by a user.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that remotely sending the
scheduling data 64 and setting the alert mode on the wireless
device 20 may be facilitated by over-the-air provisioning ("OTAP").
Generally, OTAP uses wireless mechanisms to send software and
provisioning data to mobile devices automatically. It will be
appreciated that when utilizing the server 22 (or any other edge
device) to enter the scheduling data 64, it is not necessary for
the alerting application 66 to be installed on the wireless device
20.
[0029] From operation 310, the routine 300 continues to operation
320, where the alerting application 66 automatically sets the
wireless device 20 to the alert mode identified in the scheduling
data 64 for the alert mode period. In particular, upon receiving
the scheduling data 64, the alerting application 66 may be
configured to automatically access an existing alert mode menu on
the wireless device 20, and if necessary, set the desired alert
mode (e.g., silent mode). Once the alert mode has been set, the
wireless device 20 may emit an alert corresponding to the specified
alert mode (e.g., a vibrating alert if a silent mode is specified)
when receiving incoming calls during the alert mode period. The
alerting application 66 may also be configured to keep track of the
alert mode period as it elapses and once the alert mode period has
elapsed, reset the alert mode to the previous setting (if
necessary). As discussed above with respect to operation 310, the
alert mode may be automatically set remotely by the alerting
application 66 executing on the server 22 via OTAP.
[0030] From operation 320, the routine 300 continues to operation
330, where the alerting application 66 determines, during the alert
mode period, whether the alert mode period is nearing expiration.
If, at operation 330, the alerting application 66 determines that
the alert mode period is nearing expiration, the routine 300
continues to operation 340 where the alerting application 66 may
then automatically alert a user of the wireless device 20 of the
expiring alert mode. For example, the alerting application 66 may
be configured to cause the wireless device 20 to generate an
increasing sequence of vibrating alerts to notify the user that the
alert mode period is coming to an end. From operation 340, the
routine 300 continues to operation 350.
[0031] If, at operation 330, the alerting application 66 determines
that the alert mode period is not nearing expiration, the routine
300 branches to operation 350 where the alerting application 66
determines, during the alert mode period, whether an input has been
received on the wireless device 20 to extend the alert mode period.
In particular, the alerting application 66 on the wireless device
20 may be configured to program a "hot key" on the keypad 32 for
extending the alert mode period a further predetermined period.
[0032] If, at operation 350, the alerting application 66 determines
that an input for extending the alert mode period has been received
on the wireless device 20, the routine 300 continues to operation
360 where the alerting application 66 may then automatically extend
the alert mode for an additional predetermined period. For example,
if a meeting for which a user has previously scheduled a silent
alert mode is running behind schedule, the user may extend the
alert mode by pressing the programmed hot key on the wireless
device 20 to automatically extend the silent alert mode period an
additional thirty minutes, hour, etc. From operation 360, the
routine 300 then returns to operation 330 where the alerting
application 66 determines, during the extended alert mode period,
whether the extended alert mode period is nearing expiration.
[0033] If, at operation 350, the alerting application 66 determines
that an input for extending the alert mode period has not been
received on the wireless device 20, then the previously scheduled
alert mode period continues to run until it has elapsed. From
operation 350, the routine 300 then ends.
[0034] Turning now to FIG. 4, an illustrative routine 400 will be
described illustrating a process performed by the alerting
application 66 in the network environment 2 for receiving the
scheduling data 64 utilized in setting an alert mode on the
wireless device 20, in accordance with various embodiments. The
routine 400 begins at operation 410 where the alerting application
66 logs previously entered scheduling data 64 utilized for setting
previous alert mode periods on the wireless device 20. In
particular, the alerting application 66 may be configured to store
the scheduling data 64 received for scheduling individual alert
modes on the wireless device 20 and present the previous scheduling
data 64 to a user (i.e., in a user interface) for selection as the
current scheduling data prior to receiving new scheduling data.
[0035] From operation 410, the routine 400 continues to operation
420, where the alerting application 66 receives a request to use
previous scheduling data 64 to set a current alert mode period. For
example, the alerting application 66 may be configured to generate
a user interface from which a user may select previously entered
scheduling data 64 having an alert mode period which the user
wishes to reuse to set a current alert mode period. It should be
appreciated that in this manner, the scheduling of alert mode
periods is facilitated by enabling users to select and reuse
previously entered scheduling data without having to reenter the
scheduling data 64 in the alerting application 66. From operation
420, the routine 400 then ends.
[0036] Turning now to FIG. 5, an illustrative routine 500 will be
described illustrating a process performed by the alerting
application 66 in the network environment 2 for automatically
setting an alert mode on the wireless device 20 from a network edge
device, in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The routine
500 begins at operation 510, where the alerting application 66
receives the scheduling data 64 to set an alert mode period for an
alert mode which may be selected on the wireless device 20. It
should be understood that in this embodiment, alerting application
66 may be executing on a network edge device, such as the wireless
device 21 (either independently or via the stationary emitter 13),
the server 22, or the personal computer 26 in the network
environment 2. Furthermore, the scheduling data 64 may be received
in the network edge device and not in the wireless device 20. Still
further, the alert mode may comprise a silent alert mode.
[0037] From operation 510, the routine 500 continues to operation
520, where the alerting application 66 automatically sets the
wireless device 20 to the alert mode identified in the scheduling
data 64 for the alert mode period. It will be appreciated that the
alert mode may be remotely set from the server 22 using OTAP as
described in greater detail above with respect to operation 310 of
FIG. 3.
[0038] From operation 520, the routine 500 continues to operation
530, where the alerting application 66 determines whether the
wireless device 20 receives any communications (e.g., telephone
calls, SMS messages, etc.) during the scheduled alert mode period.
In particular, the alerting application 66 may be configured to
respond to a network trigger placed on a telephone number
associated with the wireless device 20. Thus, whenever
communications to the wireless device 20 are received in the
network environment 2, the alerting application 66 may be
configured to check the scheduling data 64 to determine if the
communications are being received during the alert mode period.
[0039] If, at operation 530, the alerting application 66 determines
that the communications being received are not being received
during the alert mode period, then the routine 500 then ends. If,
at operation 530, the alerting application 66 determines that the
communications being received are being received during the alert
mode period, then the routine 500 continues to operation 540 where
the alerting application 66 may send a message to the party or
parties sending the communications that the receiving party
associated with the wireless device 20 is unavailable for the
duration of the time remaining in the alert mode period. In
particular, if the communications include a telephone call and a
network voicemail box is associated with the wireless device 20
telephone number then the alerting application 66 may be configured
to send the call to the network voicemail box for later retrieval.
If there is not a voicemail box associated with the wireless device
20 telephone number, then the alerting application 66 may be
configured to cause the server 22 to play an announcement to the
sending party or parties that the wireless device 20 associated
with the receiving party is currently in a silent alert mode and
that the receiving party will be notified of the communications
when the alert period has expired. If the incoming communications
include SMS or text messages, the alerting application 6 may be
configured send a return text message to the sending party or
parties that the wireless device 20 associated with the receiving
party is currently in a silent alert mode and that the receiving
party will be notified of the text messages when the alert period
has expired. The alerting application 66 may also be configured to
instruct the server 22 to queue or buffer all received text
messages until the alert period has expired.
[0040] From operation 540, the routine 500 continues to operation
550, where the alerting application 66 may be configured to send a
message to the wireless device 20 listing the communications
received during the alert mode period. In particular, the alerting
application 66 may be configured to send a text message to the
wireless device 20 listing any communications (i.e., voice calls or
text messages) directed to the wireless device 20 user's telephone
number received in the network environment 2 during the alert mode
period. It should be understood that the alerting application 66
may also be configured to allow wireless device users to determine
whether or not to allow telephone calls, text messages, and/or
other notifications during the alert mode period. From operation
550, the routine 500 then ends.
[0041] Turning now to FIG. 6, an illustrative routine 600 will be
described illustrating a process performed by the alerting
application 66 in the network environment 2 for automatically
setting an alert mode utilizing sensor data received on the
wireless device 20, in accordance with various embodiments. The
routine 600 begins at operation 610 where the alerting application
66 receives sensor data indicative of a current external state
associated with the wireless device 20. In particular, the alerting
application 66 may be configured to receive location and event data
determined by the location sensor 76, ambient noise data measured
by the microphone 72, and ambient temperature data measured by the
temperature sensor 80.
[0042] From operation 610, the routine 600 continues to operation
620, where the alerting application 66 automatically sets an alert
mode based on and in response to the received sensor data. For
example, if the alerting application 66 determines that the
location data from the location sensor 76 indicates that the
wireless device 20 is currently located in a movie theater, the
alerting application 66 may be configured to automatically cause
the wireless device 20 to enter into a silent alert mode so that
audible alerts are not generated for incoming communications during
a movie. As another example, if the alerting application 66
determines from the noise data measured by the microphone 72 that
the ambient noise around the wireless device 20 is louder than a
predetermined threshold noise level, the alerting application 66
may be configured to automatically set an audible alert mode which
generates a high volume audible alert for incoming communications
to the wireless device 20, so that the communications may be heard
above the current ambient noise level. As another example, if the
alerting application 66 determines from the temperature data
measured by the temperature sensor 80 that the temperature of the
wireless device 20 is within a few degrees of a standard body
temperature (i.e., 98.6 degrees), then the alerting application 66
may be configured to determine that the wireless device 20 is being
held by or near the body of a user and automatically set a silent
alert mode (e.g., vibrating) on the wireless device 20 for incoming
communications. From operation 620, the routine 600 then ends.
[0043] Turning now to FIG. 7, an illustrative routine 700 will be
described illustrating a process performed by the alerting
application 66 in the network environment 2 for automatically
setting an alert mode on the wireless devices 20 and 21 utilizing
venue-based data (which may include data generated by the
stationary emitter 13 described above with respect to FIG. 1), in
accordance with various embodiments. The routine 700 begins at
operation 710 where the alerting application 66 executing on the
wireless device 20 may receive venue data from the stationary
emitter 13 upon an occurrence of an event at a venue. For example,
the stationary emitter 13 may be located in a venue utilized for
religious services and be configured to send data which includes a
period during which religious services are held in the venue.
[0044] From operation 710, the routine 700 continues to operation
720, where the alerting application 66 automatically sets an alert
mode based on the received venue data. For example, the alerting
application 66 may cause the wireless device 21 to enter into a
silent alert mode which lasts the duration of a scheduled religious
service. In accordance with another embodiment, the wireless device
21 may further be configured to "discover" other devices in the
vicinity (e.g., by communicating a discovery signal within the
facility utilizing any number of wireless communications methods)
and wirelessly communicate data causing the discovered device or
devices to also enter into the silent alert mode. The routine 700
then ends.
[0045] It will be apparent by those skilled in the art that various
modifications or variations may be made in the present invention
without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other
embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the invention disclosed herein.
* * * * *